Scale poise and beam.



A. W. BPRIGJH.` SCALE POISB AND BEAM.

APPLICATION PILED'TUNE 18, 1910. 1,054,963, Patented Man/1, 1913.

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SCALE POISE AND BEAM. Y APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 1a, 1910.

' Patented Mar. 4, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

ALONZO W. EPRIGHT, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SCALE POISE AND BEAM.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, ALoNzo W. EPEIGHT, a citizen of the United States'ofAmerica, risiding in Altoona, in the county of Blair, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inScale Poises and'Bef'ns, of which the -following is a true andexactdescription, reference beingl had tov the accompanying drawings,which form a part thereof.

The present invention relates to the construction and arrangement of thebeam and sliding poise therein of beam scales, and the general object oft-he invention is to provide a bea-m andsliding poise constructionwhich'` is conducive to rapid and accurate weighing.

The invention was primarily devised, and is especially adapted for usein railway car scales of the kind in which cars are weighed While movingcontinuously across the scale platform. v

More specifically the object of the invention is to provide a beam andsliding poise construction for a scale of the' character specified, inwhich provisions, independentv exact register with the nearest scalediviplatform.

sion o-rgraduation of the `beam at the end ofthe adjustment of theweight along the beam into 'the position at which the. 'noiseapproximately balances the load on the scale Irovisions are preferablymade for adjusting the center of gravity of the poise without bodilymovement of the latter along the beam to measure weights smaller thanthe difference between the weights balanced by the poise when in one andthen 'in the other of an adjacent pair of beam scale divisions. Y Thevarious features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointedout with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming part of thisspecification. For a better understanding of the invention, however,reference should be had tothe aco companyingdrawings and descriptivemat- .jte'r'in which I have illustrated and described one of the formsin which the invention may be embodied.

'Of theidrawings: Figure l, is an eleva tiony of the portion of a beamweighing lscale. Figs. vv2 and 3' are side and end eleva- Specificationof 'Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4,1913.

Application filed .Tune 18, 1910. Serial No. 567,559.

the first mentioned of which the beam D is. pivotally supported in anyusual or suit-- able manner,- as by means of the yoke B ond knife edgepivot member D2 securedto the beam D is connected to the scaleplathaving apertured ends receiving the ends of the knife edge pivotmember D. A sec form (not shown) in any usual or suit-able y manner asby connections including the yoke f E, rod E, yoke E2, lever E3, yokeE4, and

rod E5.

F and F represent the usual weights .by which the scale as a whole isbalanced.

As shown, the scale beam D is in theform of a bar provided with agroove'in'its u peredge in which is mounted a bar formed on its upperside with the'usual notches Gr separated by the interposed wedge shapedteeth. At the sides of the bar G, the beam His provided with guidesurfaces or shoulders Da and 'D4 forming tracks, so to speak, for theanti-friction roll-ers hereinafter described of the sliding poise II.

' The sliding poise H mounted on the beam I) comprises a vertical bodyportion at the side 'of the beaml D, a heavy po-rtionII4 integral withthe body )ortion and extending beneath the beam anc a portion ,I-IAsecured to the body portion and project-ingrover Ythe top of thebeam D.As shown, al pairs-of shafts H2 are secured eachat one endin the body'ofthe poise H and at the other end in the member H. These shafts extendtransversely to, and lie above the beam. /On each shaft H2' is mountedan anti-friction roller I which travels on the `Jtrack formed bythe beamshoulder D3 and an anti-friction roller .I which travels on the trackfomned by the guiderib or Shoulder D4. Preferably as sliown, the rollerJ is grooved and the rib D* is shaped to enter the groove in the rollerJ. Preferably also as shown, ball bearings I and J are provided for therollers I and 'ing poise Il above the guide bar G; L representing theshaft for the lever L. One` arm of the lever I zs provided with a detentL2 adapted to enter the notches G in the guide-bar G, and the other armis extended to form a finger piece by which the detent I..2 may belifted out of the notches G. To properly force the detent L2 to thebottom of any notch G in which the detent may extend at the end of therough adjustment spring M is provided. The spring M bears at one endagainst the flattened portion L9' formed on the lever L, and, at theother end, against an adjustable abutment M in the form of a screw plug,threaded into a socket H5 formed in the sliding poise portion H. Theupper end of the spring M preferably projects into the socket H5 asshown in Fig. 4.

For reasons hereinafter explained, the spring M should be relativelypowerful in its action, but should have a limited range of movement. Onthis account I have found it desirabl-e in practice to form the spring Mout of a solid block or rod section of steel by first boring out the rodto form a tube and then cutting a spiral groove or slot in the tube wallto thereby produce the spiral spring shown. I do not wish to beunderstood, however, as asserting that this mode .of constructing thespring is in all cases necessary, but call attention to the manner inwhich I have found it desirable to make the spring to emphasize thestrength and limited range. of movement of the spring which I have foundit desirable to use.

In the operation of weighing a car with scale mechanism of the characterdisclosed, the sliding poise H is adjusted byhand to approximatelyproper position on the scale beam, and then the final balance isobtained by adjusting the auxiliary sliding poise K along the auxiliarybeam K carried by the sliding main 'poise H. 'It will be understood thatthe full adjustment of the auxiliary poise K is necessary to balance aweight variation on the scale platform which is balanced by a very muchsmaller adjustment of the sliding poise H as a whole along the beam D.For

instance, the poise K in a sliding scale of the character described, mayserve byv a movement throughout-its entire 'range to ,measure aweightyariation on the scale platform of one thousand'pounds while theadjustment of the sliding poise H along the beam D,a distance equal tothe distance between an adjacent pair of notches G', also measures aweight variation on the scale platform of one thousand pounds. In viewcharacter of this fact, it is essential for accurate weighing that thesliding poise I-I should at the end of each adjustment be brought intoexact register with a division point on the beam D. Furthermore, sincein weighing cars ruiming over the scale platform the total time in whicheach car niust ordinarily be weighed is very short, the adjust-ment mustbe made very quickly.4 The lever L with its detent L2 and a spring M ofthe described are obviously well adapted to automatically and rapidlyadjust the sliding poise H into the desired register at the end of theapproximate or rough adjustment of the sliding weight.

The spring M, because of its powerful act-ion coupled with the relativefrictionless and easy manner in which the poise slides alongr the beamtends to go instantly to the bottom of any notch in which the detent isentered at the end of the rough adjustment, and the limited range ofaction of the spring M prevents the detent from bearing `against thenotch walls with sufficient pressure to cant the sliding weight andtherefore interfere with the proper position of the weight along thebeam.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination in aweighing scale of the character described, of abeam provided with one or more poise guide surfaces and with a series'of scale division notches separated by wedge shaped teeth, a poiseresting on and slidable-along said surface or surfaces, a detent carriedby said poise and adapted to enter said notches, and a spring having avrelatively powerful but limited range of action, acting on said detentand tending to center it in any notch into which it may extend, wherebysaid detent and spring serve as a means for bringing said poise intoexact register with the beam scale division at the ends of theadjustments of the poise along the same, and without canting said poiseon said beam, said poise including provisions whereby the center ofgravity of said poise may be shifted without moving the poise bodilywith respect to said beam to thereby measure differences in weightsmaller than the difference between tle weights balanced by the poisevwhen in register first with one, and then with another ofan adjacentpair `of said beam scale divisions.

2. The combination in a. Weighing scale of the character described of amain -beam provided-with one or more poise guide surfacesaand withya'series o4 notches separated by wedge shaped teeth, a main poiseresting on and slidable along said surface or surfaces, a detent carriedby said poise and adapted to enter said notches, a spring acting on saiddetent and tending to scale division center it in any notch into`whichit may exg tend whereby said detentv and spring serve as a means forbringing said poise into exact register with the beam scale divisions atthe ends of the adjust-ments of saidmain poise along said beam, saidspring being made relatively powerful -in its action and with a limitedrange of action so that while the spring is ,eil'e'ctiveto force thedetent to the bottom of-any notch in which it may be entered it doesnot. urge the detent below the bottom .of the notch with sufficientforceto lift or cant themain poise, and means for.

adjusting thel tension of said spring., said poise including provisions.whereby the center of gravity of said poiseQmay be shifted withoutmoving the poise fbodily with respect to said beam to thereby measuredifferences in Weight smaller than. the difference between the weightsbalanced by the poise when in register first with one, and then withanother of an adjacent pair of said beam scale divisions.

3. The combination in a weighing scale ofv th'e character described of abeam provided with a pair of spaced apart poise guides eX- tendinglongitudinally of the beam, a series of'scale division notches separatedby wedge shaped teeth lying vbetween said guides, a poise provided withanti-friction rolls run- -ning on said guides and ball bearings for saidrolls, a detentL carried bysaid poise and adapted to enter said notches,a spring acting on said vdetent and tending to center it in any -notchintowhich it may extend whereby said detent and spring serve as al meansfor bringing said poise into exact register with the beam scaledivisions at the ,ends ot' the adjustment of thepoise along the beam,said spring being made relatively powerful in its action and with alimited range of action so tliat while vthespring is effective to forcethe detent to the bottom of any notch in which it may be entered it doesnot urgethe detent below the bottom of the notch with su'iiicient forceto lift or cant the poise, and means for adjusting the tension of saidspring, said poise including provisions whereby the center of gravity ofsaid poise may be shifted without bodilymoveme. t of the poisealong thebeam Ito thereby ane-.sure differences in weight smaller than .Ledifference between the weights balanced by the poise when in registerfirst with one and then with another of an adjacent pair.

of said beam scale divisions.

4. The combination in aweighing scale of the character described of abeam provided with a pair ot' spaced apart poise guidesextending:longitudinally ot' the beam, a series of scale divisionnotches separated by wedge shaped teeth lying between said guides, apoise provided with anti-friction rolls running on said guides, and ballbearings for said rolls, a detent carried bysaid poise and adapted toenter said notches, a spring acting `on said detentand tending to centerit in any notch into which it may extend whereby said detent and springserve as a,

means for bringing said poise into exact register with the scale beamdivisions at the ends of the adjustments of the poise along the beam,said spring being made relatively powerful in its action and with alimited range of action so 'thatiwhile the spring is effective to forcethe detent to the bottom of any notch in which it may 'be en,- tered itdoes not urge the detent below'the bottom of the notch with sufficientforce to lift or'cant themain poise, means for adjusting the tension ofsaid spring, and a supplemental beam mounted on said mai-n poisev p anda supplemental poise resting on and slidable along said supplementalbeam, whereby, by adjusting said supplemental poise alongsaidsupplemental beam without bodily movement of said main poise along lsaid'main beam,d1iferences 1n weight ma be measured which are smaller thanthe di erences between the weights balanced by said 'main poisejwhen itis in register first with tone and thenwith another of an adjacent pairof scale beam divisions.

5.'The combinationsin a weighing scale ofthe character described of abeam provided with poise `guides extending longitudinally ofthe beam,and with a series of scale. division notches 'separated by wedge shapedteeth, a poise provided with anti-friction rolls running on said guides,and ball bearings for said rolls, a detent carried by said poise andadapted to enter said notches, a helical spring acting on said detentand tending `to center it in any notch into which said main beam,diiierences in weight may be measured which are smaller than theAdifterences between the weights balanced by said main poise when it isin register first with one and then withanother of an adjacent pair' ofscale beam divisions.

ALONZO lV. EPRIGHT. Witnesses:

ARNOLD KATZ, STEWART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,l Washington, D. C.

